Breaking: Yes! He’s being deported! Gay hate pastor drama in Botswana

Following claims of assault, protests and more hate speech, Pastor Steven Anderson has now been officially banned by Botswana and will be deported.

The drama began with claims that he assaulted Tony Benn, a 59-year-old man, in his church on the weekend, whilst members of the Botswana Humanist Society protested outside.

Benn says he went to the American evangelist’s new church in Gaborone to “listen quietly” and “try to understand his thinking” and insisted that he was not part of the small group of protestors.

However, when he questioned Anderson on his views, the pastor apparently became angry and demanded to know if he is a homosexual or a Christian, allegedly manhandling and throwing Benn off the premises.

“I made the big mistake of saying I’m not a heterosexual and I’m not a homosexual, which made him really wild. In the end I told him I am asexual and felt that it was quite rude of him to ask an old man in public about his sexual preference,” Benn told Mambaonline.

“I was pushed across the car park forcefully [by two men]. I was not hurt by the pushing but onlookers were concerned that I was going to be pushed into a ditch by Anderson’s bodyguards.

“After being pushed outside I argued with [Anderson], saying that probably Paul and Jesus were asexual so what’s the big deal and why does he consider it to be a perversion. He accused me of having AIDS and continued to call me a reprobate…”

Benn later went back to the church to fetch his hat, which he’d left behind, but was refused entry. A television crew arrived and interviewed Benn outside. “Anderson was behind me shouting that I had an AIDS filled mouth…” he said.

“People should be careful because of his temper. I think he needs mental health counselling and help. Perhaps it’s the stress of constant media intrusion into his life and always being on the stage.”

Benn has reported the incident to the police and said that he is planning to press charges of assault against the pastor.

Protesters outside Anderson’s church in Gaborone

On Monday, Anderson admitted to the incident in a YouTube video, describing Benn (who actually identifies as heterosexual) as an “old homo” who “tried to keep pushing his way into the service.”

Anderson said that,” I had to keep grabbing the guy and dragging him out… Obviously we have our right to our private property, so we had every right to drag this guy out of there repeatedly.”

On Tuesday Anderson continued to express his support for the execution of gay people and adulterers in a radio interview on Gabzfm. “How can I let homosexuals into my church when you know they are child molesters,” Anderson said. “They rape and violate children,” he ranted.

While the interview was underway it was reported that immigration officials arrived in the studio. As members of the media gathered round, Anderson and his photographer Paul Wittenberger were whisked away in a car and taken to the Immigration Department.

According to a Facebook post by the local Mmegi newspaper, Wittenberger was later released by the immigration authorities but Anderson remained in detention.

A few hours later, the Botswana Government confirmed in a tweet: “Pastor #StevenAnderson, a #USA citizen has been declared a Prohibited Immigrant and as such is being deported from #Botswana”.

Hendrik Baird, GaySA Radio Station Manager, who started the campaign against Anderson in South Africa, welcomed the news of his imminent deportation. “Today we are vindicated as another country says no to hate. Let this be a warning to other Christian colonialists. We have laws and people who deserve respect, no matter their colour, sex or orientation. I am very happy that this hate-monger has been thrown out of Africa.”

He added: “This is another wonderful day for LGBTI people, and we trust this is the start of change throughout the rest of Africa.”

In my experience with homophobia it is usually the biggest closet homos that end up being gay themselves… Wow but this guy definitely needs to go for some anger management classes. I am very proud of the governments of South Africa and Botswana.

The steps taken by the Government of Botswana are in keeping with International Law and Human Rights issues around the world. No man is above the law – Only Jesus Christ himself is. Credit to Botswana.

I am proud of South Africa and Botswana for keeping our & your citizens safe. This is a very important milestone. Steve Anderson – cant you see that you are not welcome? Stay away from us! We don’t need you hatred!

I am the old man who was insulted and assaulted by Pastor Anderson and his buddyguards in his so-called church in Tlokweng, Botswana. Thanks for writing this good account. I would like to make it clear that I’m heterosexual and do not have AIDS. Pastor asked me if I’m a homosexual in his church because I disagreed with his soterology in a friendly discussion before church started. I said no and I also told him I was not a heterosexual, since he had no right to a sensible answer to his silly and insulting question. I was going to go on to tell him that my sexual behaviour is none of his business and in Botswana it is quite rude to talk about sex with older people. I was going to tell him that in Church on Sundays, I’m an asexual and dont ‘think about sex in church. He then called me a homosesexual and a fag, which I objected to and then he and others pushed me out of church. I have all of this on film which is on the Botswana Humanist Society Facebook page. I was invited to church by Anderson, after I phoned him the day before. He gave me directions. I traveled to the church on a combi with one of Anderson new converts. We both got lost together on the way, so we phoned Anderson for directions again. Anderson even offered us a lift but we declined. I was not a protester at all at the start and just wanted to quietly and politely listen to and befriend Anderson. After being insulted and pushed out of church and across a car park, I became radicalised, angry and joined the protester group, I repeatedly went back to the church before and after the service to try to gain access. I told Anderson that the car park is a public place so he and his buddyguards have no right to push anyone though the car park. I claimed that since I was invited to church by himself and he has the freedom of speech, I should also have the freedom of listening to him. I told Anderson repeatedly that I was not a homosexual and that Anderson had unfairly excommunicated me from church for no reason. Anderson said I was too ugly ever to be allowed in his church. I told Anderson I shall keep on visiting his church and entering every Sunday and Wednesday evening until Anderson apologises in public for calling me a homosexual, a fag and having an AIDS filled mouth. I wanted to assert my right to enter his church since a church service is a public gathering and is not private affair. The e-Botswana TV crew arrived. Anderson’s missionaries were angry with me and accused me of inviting the TV crew. I told then I didn’t invite TV and did not know who did. After the service during interviews by the TV crew I again tried to enter the church, as I felt it was my right as I had been invited to the church personally by Anderson. Again the insults and shoving happened in front of the TV camera. I do not know if Anderson went to the Police to complain that I trespassed in the church. He threatened to. I and the protesters did not disrupt the church service itself. During the service we were quiet, some distance from the church and outside of the car park. Actually I visited another church service in same building and was pleasantly welcomed and accepted, while Anderson was preaching. I think only about 14 people attended Andersons service and most of those were foreign Missionaries and a young Mostwana lady called Elsie who was Andersons PR expert. It was a small occasion. I told Anderson that one day he will be an old man and become an asexual and will stop making children ( he has 9) . I told Anderson that probably Jesus and Paul in the bible were also asexual and nothing was written about them being sexually active in the bible, so why does Anderson consider asexuality to be a terrible perversion of reprobates and an abomination and filthy. I did try to apologise to Anderson for anything thing I had said which may have offended him and make him lose his temper and suggested that he apologise to me in front of the TV. I suggested we shake hands and forget the matter. He declined the offer. After the service I went to the Police Station nearby in Tlokweng to show the Police the video I had made of the pushing and insults by Anderson to open a case against Anderson and two others Missionaries. They told me that in Botswana the pushing is considered to be assault. I intended to also to take the matter to Chief Gaborone in Tlokweng to get the matter resolved by having Anderson flogged or lashed in the local court called a Kgotla, Batswana have previously lashed a white man who caused trouble. This is part of the history of colourblind Botswana. Insulting an older person in Botswana is not considered to be Botho. It is something Batswana, who are very respectful people, just don’t do. I visited a lawyer the following day to initiate a defamation case against Pastor Anderson for calling me a fag and homosexual and having AIDS. According to Anderson”s philosophy all homosexuals are child molesters and rapists. On the Radio the following day Anderson again justified the assault because the old man was a filthy homosexual. Anderson could have used this occasion to apologise to the old man, me. My main concern now is that Anderson has a church website for the Botswana church which requests online donations for a church which is not a legal entity. The church has not been registered in Botswana and no attempt has been made to register the church. Anderson is therefore a fraudster in USA by requesting the donations for the church . The Police in USA should therefore investigate and prosecute this fraud. I also think it should be an offence in Botswana and elsewhere for a church to try to soulwin minor children who are under 18 without parental consent. Children need to be protected from cults like Anderson’s. If anybody has any questions or wants clarification, please email me. Christians, Muslims, Jews,Humanists, good people and haters of hate speech everywhere in the world need to fight together to make sure this evil cult called Faithful Word Baptist Church and its bogus Pastor and bogus Missionaries are not allowed to enter their countries. The Government of Botswana and Police at Tlokweng Police station must be praised for the great work they have done in getting this dangerous bunch of thugs removed from Botswana. Botswana is a great country. I do hope one day Anderson and his missionaries, shall see the light and become normal, pleasant, humane Christians and learn to interpret the bible properly or even better become Humanists ! Thank you so much for reading this.